Rating: 5/5 Stars

“They’re creepy! They’re cooky, mysterious and spooky!”

The cast of SUNY Oswego’s production of “The Addams Family’’ is truly one for the ages. The cartoonish mannerisms of sophomore Ian Katz and junior Maximillian Collins as family patriarch Gomez Addams and his lovable brother Fester are outstanding highlights of the raunchy comedy that brings to life a sentimental touch to the cast of unique and wacky characters. 

Made up of a variety of academic majors, each person involved in the show exemplified the definition of dedication. From sharp scene changes and lighting cues, to a wonderfully precise pit and cast. The iconic family was brought to life and well-captured in the casting of our drama department. The primary members of the family (Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Fester, Grandma, Lurch) are reminiscent of the original portrayals seen when they were first brought to life in the 1964 television show “The Addams Family,” a light-hearted and goofy take on the beloved characters and their dynamic with each other and the world. Despite these influences in both the actors’ performance and some pieces of the set, each member of the cast brought their own whimsical take to the show. The Addams’ Ancestors were also a delight to watch, each with beautifully done costumes and spectacular timing. The most amusing was the hockey player, who sported an Oswego jersey in a nod to our school’s hockey teams. 

The actors portraying the Beineke family bring a wonderful sense of ‘the outside’ to the family’s dynamic, creating a juxtaposition between the characters we already know and love with an almost equally unique bunch of new characters. Senior Sarah Berns gives a playful take on Alice Beineke, the mother of Wednesday Addams’ fiance Lucas, in a wonderfully cartoonish manner that coincides with Gomez and Fester in a perfect comedic match. Mal Beineke, played by senior Ty’reek Wylie, and Morticia Addams by Camryn Webber (also a senior) were the perfect serious counterparts for their over-the-top costars. Every comedy needs a serious, more muted actor, and Wylie and Webber nailed it. Though both hilarious in their own ways, their portrayals of the uptight Mal and sultry Morticia were a blessing to the production.

Centering around Wednesday Addams (freshman Tati Copp) and the struggles that ensue when bringing together her family and her to-be in-laws following her engagement to musical-original character, the sweetly adorable Lucas Beineke (sophomore Cameron Humphrey), the entire cast demonstrates true chemistry. The family love, passion, and journey to the truth is presented in a genuine yet funny way. Visually wonderful thanks to smoke machines, puppets, elaborate props, and lighting, “The Addams Family” is delightful in each aspect of theater: an appealing spectacle, great acting and singing, spectacularly performed dance numbers and strong coordination between the cast and crew. 

Each show had been nearly or completely sold out. Community members, students, faculty and families flocked to see “The Addams Family” before its final two performances on Sunday, April 22. 

Image from SUNY Oswego Theater via Facebook